Attachment for a brick press



8- 0, 1968 A. c. JELESIEWICZ 3,397,435

ATTACHMENT FOR A BRICK PRESS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR m WM.

ATTORNEYS 1968 A. c. JELESIEWICZ 3,397,435

ATTACHMENT FOR A BRICK PRESS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 a Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BYM -m ATTORNEY .5

1968 A. c. JELESIEWICZ 3,397,435

ATTACHMENT FOR A BRICK PRESS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 26 I. BYMMM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,397,435 ATTACHMENT FOR A BRICK PRESS Anthony C. Jelesiewiez, Conshohocken, Pa., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to International Minerals & Chemical Corporation Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,641 Claims. (Cl. -103) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plane top body is secured to the rearward side of a mold cavity opening in a table over which reciprocates a mix carrying receptacle means having a forward side wall which has a bottom edge recess for discharging into the mold cavity on its return stroke a quantity of mix in excess of that required to fill the mold cavity on the forward stroke. The plane top body is so positioned on the table that it passes into and through the recess after the forward side wall of the receptacle passes the mold cavity on its forward stroke and supports the mix above the table top surface and in the plane of the top of the excess of mix deposited on the reverse stroke.

This invention relates generally to the manufacture of pressed brick and is directed particularly to an attachment for a brick pressing machine.

The invention more particularly is directed to an attachment to a standard or conventional brick pressing machine which is designed to eliminate the requirement for an attendants services and more especially to avoid the waste of materials employed in the brick pressing operation.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for a brick pressing machine which is designed to eliminate or reduce to a minimum the leaving on a table of the machine of a quantity of the brick batch each time the machine operates to supply the press or die chamber with the required quantity of the brick batch to be subsequently compressed in the die or mold cavity for forming the brick.

In the operation of a brick press machine or apparatus of the type in which a reciprocating charging apparatus carries the brick batch mixture to and discharges the mixture into the brick pressing mold, a quantity of the mixture is left upon a surface of the machine when the charging apparatus is retracted preparatory to the operation of the rams which compress the mixture in the mold cavity. This condition requires the services of an attendant at the machine to constantly remove the material left on a surface of the machine at each reciprocation of the charger. In addition to requiring the attendance of a person for removing the excess material from the machine, this condition results in wastage of material and the handling of quantities of the brick mixture which, by the use of the present invention on the machine, can be retained in the charger or drawn back with the charger upon the return stroke of the charger preparatory to receiving a further charge of material for introduction into the mold cavity.

The brick press attachment of the present invention is designed particularly for use in connection with a press of the type employed for manufacturing bricks of a tapered form wherein provision is made for depositing into the mold cavity, in one area or part thereof, an excess amount of the brick forming material to be compressed between tapered dies in the part of the brick forming the larger end thereof whereby to avoid the formation of a pressed body in which the material is more highly compressed in the smaller end than in the larger end.

ice

In the operation of the machine in this manner for depositing an excess of material in one part of the die chamber a portion of the forwardly moving wall of the chamber structure which carries the mix toward and discharges it into the die chamber, has a bottom edge recess which, upon the return stroke of the mix receiving chamber leaves a raised quantity of the mix at an end of the chamber in which the larger end of the tapered brick will be pressed. Some of the mix which is carried forward upon the forward stroke of the charger is left upon the top or table of the machine and this must be removed before the next forward stroke of the charger takes place.

It is a further object of the present invention in view of the foregoing to provide a means which will prevent the depositing of the brick forming mixture on the top or table of the machine at the side of the mold cavity toward which the charger moves and from which it returns for receiving a further charge of mixture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structure adapted to be secured to the machine table at the side of the mold cavity across which the material carrying charger moves in the operation of depositing material into the mold cavity, which permits the passage of the forward side of the mix receiving and carrying chamber to move over the machine table in such a manner as to prevent any of the charge passing downwardly onto the table to be left upon the retraction of the charger, more particularly the mix receiving chamber portion thereof.

The invention broadly contemplates the provision of an inclined platform body adapted to be secured to the machine table so that the forward side or wall of the mix receiving chamber will slide over the body in the cutout portion of the wall and the mix in the chamber will thus be supported upon the platform body instead of passing downward onto the table top, and will be drawn back with the mix receiving chamber structure.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of an inclined platform structure to be secured to the top of the table of the machine, which structure can be adjusted for elevation to cooperate with different forms of openings in the bottom edge of the forward wall of the mix receiving and carrying chamber, for facilitating the formation of bricks or blocks having side faces of different angles.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section through a portion of a brick forming and pressing apparatus of the type with which the present invention may be used.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, looking down upon a table surface of the apparatus and showing an embodiment of the present invention mounted there- FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 2 and in a vertical plane.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in a vertical plane approximately on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing shim means for elevating the platform portion.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention illustrating means for elevating the platform portion or plate portion of the device.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating conventional upper and lower dies and a mold cavity filled in a conventional manner with brick mixture where the top of the charge in the cavity is substantially horizontal, without excess material for compression into the wider end of the finished brick.

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 8 and showing the dies in the mixture compressing position and illustrating the relative degrees of compactness of the material at the narrow and wide ends of the brick.

FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 8 but showing a manner in which an excess of mix material is provided for compaction into the wide end of the brick.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to FIG. 9 and illustrating the substantially even or regular compaction of the material through the entire brick when an excess of material is provided as in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view in perspective of the type of tapered brick or block produced in a machine or apparatus of the type with which the present invention is designed to be used.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and with particular reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 generally designates a brick press of a standard form or type wherein the numeral 12 generally designates a supporting frame on which is mounted a hopper 14 which is arranged to contain a supply of the mix from which bricks are to be formed. This hopper has an open bottom 16 which is vertically alignable with the mix receiving chamber structure 18 forming a part of a charger 20 which is adapted to be reciprocated in a substantially horizontal plane whereby the chamber structure 18 is movable between a retracted position in which it is aligned with the open bottom of the hopper for receiving mix, and a forward position as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 4, to which it is moved for supplying a charge of mix to a mold cavity 22, across which cavity the chamber structure passes in its forward and rearward movements.

The numerals 24 and 26 respectively designate upper and lower die means. The lower die means 26 is adapted to occupy a position in the lower part of the mold cavity 22 while the upper die means 24 is adapted to enter the upper or top part of the mold cavity for compressing a charge therein cooperation with the lower die means 26.

The elements of the brick pressing apparatus thus far described are more or less standard or conventional and since they form no part in themselves of the present invention and the operation of the parts is well understood, :a further description of the apparatus is not deemed necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

The supporting frame structure 12 has upon opposite sides of the mold cavity 22 the top surfaces 28 and 30 across which the mix carrying chamber structure 18 moves by mechanism, not shown, for operating the charger 20. The surface 28 may be designated the rear surface and the surface 30 may be designated the forward surface or table, for purposes of reference in connection with the describing of the invention.

The numeral 32 designates the back wall of the chamber structure 18.

The numeral 34 designates the forward wall of the chamber 18 which is spaced a substantial distance forwardly from the wall 32 and this forward wall which is here shown as being secured by brackets 36 to the top wall 38 of the chamber structure, is formed to provide a mold board, the bottom edge of which lies in close proximity to the surface of the tables or top surfaces 28 and 30 of the apparatus in the back and forth moverrnent of the mix carrying chamber structure 18.

The forward wall or mold board 34 for the chamber structure is of greater length than the mold cavity 22 across the narrow part of which it moves in the operation of the apparatus and secured across the back side or face of the board 34, by suitable means, such, for example, as by means of the bolts 40 by which the board is secured to the brackets 36, is a squeegee strip or sheet of resilient material such as rubber or the like, generally 4 designated 42, the bottom edge 44 of which is adapted to sweep the underlying surfaces.

The bottom edge of the mold board 34 is recessed along a portion of the length thereof extending from one end of the board as indicated at 46 and at approximately midway of the length of the bottom edge of the board the recess is gradually increased in height. In other words, the top edge of the recess 46 in the portion thereof adjacent the said one end is designated 48 and this edge from approximately the mid part of the board gradually slopes upwardly toward the opposite end as indicated at 50.

The bottom edge of the squeezee 42 extends slightly below the edges 48 and 50 as shown in FIG. 3 so that a portion of the bottom edge of the squeegee substantially parallels the edge 50 of the opening in the board 34, as indicated at 52 to sweep across the hereinafter described platform unit supported upon the table surface 30.

The charger apparatus in its operation moves back and forth across the mold cavity 22, as is well understood, and when in its retracted position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 a quantity of the mix for forming the bricks is discharged through the hopper opening 16 into the mix carrying chamber 18 by way of the opening 54 in the top wall of the chamber structure.

If no provision is made for effecting the deposition of an excess of mix material in the mold cavity whereby the top of the charge in the mold cavity would be leveled off as indicated at 56 in FIG. 8, where the numeral 58 designates a charge of material in the mold cavity, upon the compression of the mix between the upper and lower die means 24 and 26, because of the divergent relationship of the opposing surfaces 60 and 62 of the die means, the mix would be more highly compressed in the narrow or smaller end thereof at 64, FIG. 9, than at the opposite or wider end designated 66 in this latter figure.

In order to prevent this unevenness in the density of the formed brick, the forward wall of the mix carrying chamber has been provided with the elongate triangular recess hereinabove described, extending through approximately half the length of the wall or mold board 34. Thus in the performance of the forward and rearward strokes of the charger 20 carrying a charge of mix, designated M in FIG. 4, upon the return movement orstroke of the chamber structure which, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, moves entirely across the mold cavity 22 until the rear wall 32 of the chamber structure is at the far or back side of the mold cavity, a ridge of the mix material is left deposited upon the table 30 of the apparatus.

FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates the manner in which the mix is left in an excess quantity in the end of the mold cavity in which the larger end of the brick is formed. In this figure the charge of the mix material in the mold cavity is designated 68 and the molded upstanding portion of the excess material, left projecting above the plane of the table surfaces 28 and 30, is designated 70.

As a result of the deposition of the excess material 70 with the charge 68 placed in the mold cavity, when the charge is compressed between the die means, the pressure applied upon the larger quantity of the charge in the end of the mold cavity into which the divergent ends of the opposing surfaces of the die means enter will be such as to compact the charge to approximately the same extent or degree as the charge is compacted at the end of the mold cavity into which the convergent ends of the die means surfaces enter, as indicated at 72 where it is indicated by the regularity of the stipling of the formed charge that the degree of compaction of the charge is approximately the same in both ends of the mold cavity.

While the provision of the elongated triangular recess or notch in the bottom edge of the mold board through a portion of the length of the board, results in the production of a brick or pressed block in which the desired regularity of compaction exists, it will be apparent from the preceding description that since the mix chamber carries a quantity of the mix with it entirely across the top of the mold cavity and onto the table surface 30, upon its return movement a ridge or quantity of the mix, corresponding to the mound indicated by the reference numeral 70 in FIG. 10, will be left behind on the table surface 30.

The present invention is directed to the provision of means for preventing deposition of mix material onto the table surface of the press apparatus from the mix carrying chamber structure on its return stroke after having moved forwardly across the mold cavity to discharge a quantity of the mix material into the mold cavity.

The means provided by the present invention for avoiding this deposition of mix material onto the table surface comprises an inclined platform structure positioned upon the surface of the table in alignment with the triangular recess, slot or notch, in the bottom edge of the mold board 34 to have the inclined edge 52 of the squeegee body 42 slide thereover. The platform structure thus has the mix deposited on the top surface thereof when the chamber structure has reached the limit of its forward or working stroke, to be carried back by the squeegee upon the return stroke of the mix carrying chamber.

One embodiment of the platform structure forming an element of the invention in association with the mold board carried squeegee, is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein the platform structure is generally designated 74.

The structure 74 comprises a plate 76, the front and back edges of which are designated 78 and 80 respectively while the numerals 82 and 84 designate end edges to be identified as forward and rearward end edges respectively.

The numeral 86 designates a base plate for the platform structure, to the longitudinally extending rear edge of which is secured the upstanding flange 88.

The platform plate 76 has its rear edge rested upon the top edge of the flange 88 and preferably is secured thereto in a desired manner as by welding or the like and the plate 76 extends downwardly or at a downward inclination from the top edge of the flange 88 toward and across the plane of the base plate 86 as shown in FIG. 5 and as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3.

In the embodiment of the platform illustrated in FIG. 5 use is illustrated of shim strips 90 below the back of the platform or, as here shown, beneath the bottom edge of the flange 88 and the table surface 30 to give the desired elevation to the back edge of the platform plate to correspond with the inclination of the bottom edge of the squeegee at 52. In other words, the bottom edge 52 of the squeegee is disposed at an inclination parallel with the surface of the plate 76 from the forward to the back edge thereof.

In the use of the platform it is set up on the table surface with the length of the platform extending in a direction perpendicular to the forward side edge of the mold cavity and with the back of the platform in line with the higher end of the triangular recess of the mold board. This positioning is clearly shown in FIG. 3.

In the placement described for the platform the lower or front edge 78 of the plate 76 may rest upon the surface 30 as shown in FIG. 3.

The rearward end edge 84 of the platform plate 76 is approximately in the vertical plane of the forward side or wall surface of the mold cavity as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 and the length of the platform plate 76 from the rear end edge 84 to the forward end edge 82 is equal to or greater than the distance between the inner side of the wall 32 of the mix chamber structure and the forward side of the squeegee 42, whereby, as will be seen most clearly in FIG. 4, when the structure 18 is in its fully advanced position where the chamber has crossed over the mold cavity, the top surface of the platform plate will be entirely covered by and will support the mix which, without the platforms presence, would be deposited upon the surface 30 of the apparatus.

Upon return stroke of the charger 20 and therefore of 6 the chamber structure 18, the bottom edge 52 of the squeegee will be drawn across the top surface of the plate 76 and carry back with it the material which had rested upon the plate.

Suitable means may be provided for securing the platform in position upon the table surface as, for example, by the use of a machine screw as indicated at 92 although any other suitable means may be employed for this purpose.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 another form of platform structure is illustrated. In this embodiment of the platform means is provided for adjusting the elevation of the back part oFfIhe platform without employing shims as shown in In the embodiment of the platform shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the platform structure is generally designated 93. In this construction the plate which is designated 94 is formed with the downturned back edge flange 95 which may be provided with a pair of vertical slots 96.

The base plate 97 has the integral upstanding flange 98 extending across the back edge thereof and this flange may be provided with suitable threaded openings, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 7 and designated 100, to receive the threaded shank of a securing screw 102. Otherwise the construction of the platform is the same or corresponds to the construction of the platform as shown in FIG. 5. In providing the flange 95 on the platform plate 94 to be adjustably secured to the flange 98, obviously some looseness may be allowed for permitting the forward edge of the plate 94 to drop down and rest upon the table surface when the platform is secured in position for use and has been adjusted for desired height at the back edge thereof.

As is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and also in the detailed illustrations forming FIGS. 5 and 6, the base plates for the platforms have a greater length than the platform plates and project beyond the plates at the forward end edges thereof whereby access is readily had to the base plates for securing the holding screws by which the platforms are maintained in position. While one screw only is illustrated and it has been found that the platforms will in actual use maintain their position, obviously if such should become necessary a second screw may be employed by providing another screw opening in the base plate, in line with the first in the transverse direction of the base between the forward and back edges, to receive a second holding screw for engagement in a corresponding threaded bore in the underlying table.

In FIG. 3 the platform illustrated is of the same construction or design as that shown in FIG. 5 but in FIG. 3 no use is shown of the adjusting shims 90. Obviously, such shims may be used if desired in the manner shown in FIG. 5.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there is provided by the present invention a novel means for preventing deposition of mix material onto the surface of the machine, that is, the table surface here designated by the reference numeral 30, across a portion of which is moved the mix carrying chamber structure. Consequently, the presence at the front of the machine of an attendant or workman to clear away any of the mix material left behind upon retraction of the structure 18 is done away with together with attendant uncleanliness and waste of materials.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. In a brick manufacturing apparatus of the type including a table having a top surface, means forming a mold cavity opening through the top of the table, a mix carrying receptacle means having a forward side wall and rear side wall and means for moving said walls in a forward and reverse stroke substantially completely across the open top of the mold cavity and constructed to discharge mix into the mold cavity at said forward stroke and said rearward stroke and the said forward side wall of the receptacle having a bottom edge recess for discharging into the mold cavity on its return stroke a quantity of mix in excess of that required to fill the mold cavity on the forward stroke and die means operative in the mold cavity to compress mix therein; the improvement which comprises a plane top body secured upon the table top surface adjacent to the side of the mold cavity approached by the rearward side of the receptacle at the .limit of its forward stroke, said body being formed and positioned with respect to the said recess in the bottom edge of said forward side wall of the receptacle to pass through said recess and support mix in the receptacle on the forward stroke and said forward side wall removing said mix from said body upon the reverse stroke whereby deposit of mix on the table top surface is prevented.

2. In a brick manufacturing apparatus of the type including a table having a top surface, means forming a mold cavity opening through the top of the table, a mix carrying receptacle means having a forward side wall and a rearward side wall and means for moving said walls in a forward and reverse stroke substantially completely across the open top of the mold cavity and having a bottom outlet to discharge mix into the mold cavity at said forward stroke and said rearward stroke and the said forward side wall of the receptacle having an angled bottom edge recess enlarging upwardly from a point intermediate the ends of said bottom edge of said forward wall toward and terminating adjacent to an end thereof for discharging into the mold cavity on its return stroke a quantity of mix in excess of that required to fill the mold cavity on its forward stroke and die means operating in the mold cavity to compress mix therein; the improvement which comprises a plane top body secured upon the table surface to the table top adjacent to the side of the mold cavity approached by the said rearward side wall of the receptacle at the limit of its forward stroke, said body being positioned at an inclination corresponding to the angle of inclination relative to the table top surface of said angled bottom edge of said recess and positioned to pass through said recess upon the forward and reverse strokes of the receptacle and to support the mix in the receptacle on the forward stroke, and said forward side wall removing said mix from said body upon the reverse stroke whereby deposit of mix on the table top surface is prevented.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said plane body comprises a plate having a length in the direction of movement of the receptacle at least as great as the distance moved by said forward wall beyond the mold cavity on said forward stroke and having a width in the transverse direction of movement of the receptacle approximately equal to the length of said angled bottom edge of the recess in the receptacle forward wall.

4. The invention according to claim 2, with an elastic sequeegee body carried by the said forward wall of the receptacle in a position for wiping a portion of the top surface of the table and the top surface of said plane body during the forward stroke movement of the receptacle wall beyond the mold cavity and during the return stroke movement thereof toward the mold cavity.

5. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the said plane body comprises a plate having a length in the direction of movement of the receptacle at least as great as the distance moved by said forward wall beyond the mold cavity on said forward stroke, the plate having a width in the transverse direction of movement of the receptacle approximately equal to the length of said angled bottom edge of the recess in the receptacle forward wall, and an elastic squeegee body carried by the said forward wall of the receptacle in a position for wiping a portion of the top surface of the table and the top surface of said plate during the forward stroke movement of the receptacle wall beyond the mold cavity and during the return stroke movement thereof toward the mold cavity.

6. The invention according to claim 2, with means for changing the angle of inclination of the said body relative to the underlying table top surface.

7. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said plane body comprises a fiat plate, a base member under lying the plate to rest upon the top surface of the said table and including an upstanding part having a back edge portion of the plate resting thereon to support the plate at said inclination.

8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein said plate is secured at said edge portion to said upstanding part, and wherein is a means for securing said base member to the said table.

9. The invention according to claim 7, with means for changing and fixing the elevation of said back edge portion of the plate relative to the said upstanding part.

10. The invention according to claim 9, wherein the last stated means comprises a depending flange integral with the back portion of said plate and positioned against a vertical side of said upstanding part, with means releasably and adjustably securing said flange to said upstanding part.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,652,884 12/1927 Ackermann 25-103 X 3,184,818 5/1965 Crile 25104 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner. 

